Delay opening valve



Feb. 14, 1961 q; STEVENS 2,971,464-

DELAY OPENING VALVE Filed Dec. 28, 1959 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 14, 1961 c, STEVENS 2,971,464

DELAY OPENING VALVE Filed Dec. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-She et 2 6 [in i /&

II /7////A INVENTOR ZSTEI/f/VS ATTOR NE Y United. States PatentO DELAY OPENING VALVE Curtis T. Stevens, Sea Island Road, St. Simons Island, Ga.

Filed Dec. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 862,242

9 Claims. (Cl. 103-6) This inventionrelates to a valve for use as an attachment to a conventional domestic type water supply system consisting of a water source, a motor-driven pump, a pressure switch for automatically controlling operation of the pump motor, a pressure tank containing the pumped water and an air cushion under pressure, and a vacuum operated air volume control unit for automatically replenishing air in the tank. Such systems function very satisfactorily where the pump draws sufiicient vacuum. However, where the water source is a flowing well, tank, reservoir, cistern, spring or the like, having a water level adjacent to or even above the level of the pump, little or no vacuum will be produced by the pump so that the vacuum operated air volume control unit will be prevented from functioning for replenishing the air dissipated from the tank by absorption in the water.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present in vention to provide a delay opening valve of extremely simple construction capable of being interposed in such an automatic water supply system between the water 1 A further object of the invention is to provide a delay opening valve unit which is of extremely simple construction, completely self-contained and capable of being readily interposed in a conventional water conduit. 1

Various otherobjects and advantages of the invention 7 will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a domestic type automatic water supply system and with a preferred form ofthe delay opening valve interposedtherein, parts of the structure being shown broken away;

I Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the delay opening valveof Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof,

on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the same type of system equipped with a second form of delay opening valve;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the delay opening valve as seen in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a third form of the delay opening valve, and

Figure 7 is a substantially central vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale and partly fragmentary, of the valve as seen in Figure 6.

with reference to Figure 1, 10 designates a source ofwater supply having a water level 11. A water tank for containing and storing water is shown at 12 and a conduitv 13 leads from the water source 10 and discharges into the; tank 12. Said conduit 13 having a conventional foot r of the connection of the conduit 13 to said tank. A

vacuum operated air volume control unit 29 is interposed in the conduit 19. The tank 12 has an outlet conduit 21 leading from the lower portion thereof and substantially below the water level 22 of the tank, which water level fluctuates. The portion of the tank 12, above the water level 22, contains a cushion of air under pressure. The parts previously described are of conventional construction and constitute no part of the present invention. As the water level 22 drops, the pressure on the switch 17 diminishes until a predetermined value is reached at which time the switch 17 automatically closes the circuit of the motor 16 to operate the pump 15 for replenishing the supply of water in the tank 12 from the source 19. If the supply of air above the water level 22 has been de-' pleted to a predetermined extent the vacuum in the line 13, between the pump 15 andtwater source lttand the vacuum in the line 19, between the line 13 and the unit 20, will effect automatic operation of the unit 2b to replenish the, air in the top of the tank 12. Thereafter the switch 17twill open automatically to deenergize the motor 16 to stop the pump when the pressure on the switch is increased to a predetermined extent by the water supply being replenished in the tank 12. This constitutes a complete automatic water supply system of a conventional domestic type which will function effectively where the pump 15 draws a sufficient vacuum. However, when the water level 11 is above or only slightly below the level of the pump, the unit 20 will not operate to replenish the air in the top of the tank 12 due to insufiicient vacuum in the line 19. The present invention constitutes a delay opening valve unit 23 which is capable of being interposed in the aforedescribed water system and which will enable the vacuum operated air volume control unit 20 to operate as intended where the water level 11 is at a height relative to the pump 15 so that little or no vacuum is drawn by the pump.

The valve unit 23, as best seen in Figure 2, includes a valve housing 24 having a cylinder 25 one end of which opens outwardly of the'flanged end 26 of said valve body. The other end of the valve body is provided with an internally threaded inlet 27 which communicates with the opposite end of the cylinder 25. Said inlet 27 is of smaller diameter than the cylinder 25 and said cylinder 25 has an annular tapered portion forming a valve seat 28, where said inlet connects with the cylinder. The

Y valve body 24 has a laterally extending internally thread- "Referring more specifically to the drawings and first a ed outlet 29 located at a point spaced from its ends and a restricted port 315 connects the inner end of the outlet 29 to an intermediate portion of the cylinder 25. The cylinder 25 is provided with an inwardly opening groove 31 the ends of which open into the port 30.

A cover 32 is secured by fastenings 33 to the flanged end 26 of the body for closing and sealing the first mentioned end of the cylinder 25. A sealing gasket 34 is interposed between said flanged end 26 and the peripheral part of the cover 32 to provide aneffective seal;

, Patented Feb. 14, men

a valve.

A passage 35 has one end opening into the inner portion of the outlet port 2? and an enlarged opposite end 35 which opens through the flanged end 26 of the body 2 and which is normally sealed by a part of the gasket 34-. The enlarged portion 36 of the passage contains a ball valve 37 which seats in and closes theend 38 of the restricted passage-portion 35, which opens into said enlargement portion 36. A branch port 39 has one end opening into the cylinder 25, adjacent the closure 32 and an opposite end opening intothe intermediate portion of the passage enlargement 36, beyond the valve seat 38. A bypass passage 4d has one end opening into the inner portion of the outlet 29 and a laterally extending opposite end 41 which opens into the passage portion or chamber 36, preferably opposite the port 3%. The bypass 40 has a seat 42 adjacent its end 41 and in alignment with a branch 43 thereof which opens through a part of the flanged body end 26. A needle valve .44 is threaded through a threaded opening 4-5 of the closure 32 and extends inwardly throughan opening in the gasket 34. The needle valve 44 has a tapered end 46 which is adjustable relative to the seat 42 to regulate the flow through said seat. A cap nut 47 is threadedly mounted on the outer end of the needle valve 44 to retain it in a desired adjusted position.

A cup shaped plunger valve 48 has a'close fitting sliding engagement in the cylinder 25 and has an open end facing the closure 32 and an opposite end which is closed by an end wall or bottom 49. The bottom t) has a tapered peripheral portion 50 of a correct size and shape to seat on the taperedsurface or valve seat 28. When thus disposed, the valve extends upwardly beyond the port 36 and groove 31, as seen in Figure 2.

The portion of the conduit 13, leading from the foot valve i4,has a threadednipplefil threadedly engaging the inlet 27, and the part of the conduit 13 extending from the pump toward the foot valve 14 has a similar nipple 52 threadedly engaging in the outlet 29; so that the valve body 24 is interposed in the pipe line 13 be.- tween the foot valve 14 and pump 15. V

The normal position of the parts of the delay opening Ivalve unit 23 'are illustrated in Figure 2, and as said parts will appear when the pump 15 is not in operation. At such time, the cylinder 25 and valve 48 will be filled with water. When operation of the pump 15 is initiated to replenish the water in the tank 12, water will be initially drawn from the valve 455 and cylinder 25 through port 39, chamber 36, port 41 and passage 44) into the outlet 29 and through a part of the pipe line '13 connecting said outlet 29 to the pump 1.5. Thereafter the vacuum built up by the pump 15 wi l draw the -cup valve 48 upwardly to the upper end of the cylinder 25 for exposing the port 3%) so that the water can then 'be drawnupwardly from the water source lbthrough the inlet 27, the lower portion of the cylinder 25, port 30 and outlet 2d, into the pipe line portion leading from said outlet 29 to the pump 15, or so that the water may thus flow under pressure to the pump, should the water level be above the level of the pump. The momentary delay thus caused between the time that the pump 15 commences operation and when the valve 48 is displaced upwardly to its open position, will enable sufficient vacuum to be created in the line 19 to cause the vacuum operated air volume control unit to operate, if necessary, to replenish the air in the upper part of the tank 12. Thereafter the valve unit 23 will not affect the normal operation of the automatic water supply system. The groove 31 is provided so that any water which might '4 l valve 48. The valve 48 is returned to its closed position of Figure 2 by gravity and by the weight of the water thus returned to the cylinder.

It will thus be seen that the unit 23 provides an extremely simple device which may be readily interposed in a water supply line to enable a vacuum operated air volume control unit of an automatic water supply system to operate in a normal manner where the water from the source is supplied under pressure to the pump or where very little vacuum is required to draw the water.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a slight modification of the invention and wherein the delay opening valve 53 includes a coupling member 54 having aligned internally threaded ends 55 and 56. A conduit member 57 is threadedly connected to the inlet end 55 and has its opposite end, not shown, in communication with the source of water supply. A conduit member 58 has one end threadedly connected to the outlet 56' and its opposite end connected to a pump 15a, and a branch conduit 1% leads from the conduit 58 between the pump lfia. and the valve unit 53. The part 19a corresponds with the conduit 19 and the pump 15a corresponds with the pump 15, and the remaining parts of the automatic water supply system, not shown,are identical with those disclosed in Figure 1.

The coupling 54 has a partition 5 located betwfifin its ends 55 and 56 and including a part as which extends longitudinally of said coupling and which has a port 61 therein. The coupling 54 has internally threaded flanged opening 62 intermediate of its, ends which opens laterally thereof and which is disposed in alignment with the port 5i. ,A casing l 'has an externally flanged opening 64 in one side thereof which threadedly engages the opening .62. Said casing d3 c tains a diaphragm 65 dividing the casing into an inner chamber 66 which communicates with the per-tion of the conduit 54, located between its outlet end 55 and the partition 59, and'an outer chamber 67.

The port 61 is normally closed by a plug valvedil which has a close fitting sliding engagement in salt. port 7 and which is slidably movable to an open position in a escape past the valve will be drawn off directly through direction toward the opening 62. A connecting rod (7.) connects the valve 63 to the diaphragm his, The diaphragm 65 is provided with a small port id connecting the chambers es and 57 and a larger part 71. A check valve 72 normally closes the port it and is conf ned by acage 73 which is carried by the diaphragm 65.

When the pump 15a is not in'operatron the conduit '58, chambers as and 67 and the chamber 74 ,of'the coupling 5.4, located between the partition 5& and outlet 56, are filled with water. When operationiofathe pump 15a is initiated this water is drawn from Saidfparts, except the chamber 67, and a vacuum is created tending to pull the valve 68 upwardly, as seen in Figure 5, to its open. position. However, this requires that the rod 69 distend the diaphragm 65 upwardly into the chamber 67. This movement of the diaphragm is resisted by the water in the chamber 67 ahdwhich has to be expelled through the restricted port "/9 to thus delay opening of the valve 68 for a sufiicient time interval so that the vacuum operated air volume control unit can function it required before the vacuum is diminished or ceases upon opening of the valve 68. Thereafter Water will flow through the port SE to the pump 15a. When the pump 15a. ceases to operate the chambers 74 and 66 will be refilled with water and the valve 72 will be unseated to allow the chamber 67 to refill rapidly so that the diaphragm 65 can resume its position of Figure 5 to effect'closing of the valve 68 without delay. it will be obvious that the check valve '72 will be held in a closed position during opening of the valve 68. It

will also. be apparent that the inlet end 55 of the cow pling 54 could be disposed to open downwardly, in the same manner as the inlet 27 of the valve unit 23.

Figures '6 and ,7 illustrate a third embodlrnent ofgthe delay opening valve, designated generally 75, which is interposed between conduit members 57 and 58', corresponding to the conduit members 57 and 58 and forming a part of an automatic water supply system which is otherwise identical with the part of the system shown in Figure 4.

The valve 75 includes a T-shape coupling or body 76 having an inlet end 77 connected to the conduit member 57' and an outlet 78 connected to the conduit member 58'. Said coupling or body member 76 includes a laterally opening branch 79. A cap shape member 80 has an open end threadedly connected to the branch 79 and forms a cylinder 81 having a closed outer end and an open inner end which opens into the chamber 82 of the coupling 76. The coupling 76 includes a diagonal partition 83 separating the chamber 82, which includes the outlet 78 and branch 79, from the inlet 77. The partition 83 has a port 84 which is normally closed by a flanged plug valve 85. The valve 85 is pivotally connected by a pivot element 86 to a part of the partition 83 for swinging movement upwardly into the chamber 82 to an open position.

A cup shaped piston 87 has a close fitting sliding engagement in the cylinder 81 and forms a variable chamber 88 in said cylinder 81 between its closed end and said piston. The piston 87 has a restricted port 89 connecting the chambers 82 and 88 and a larger port 90, also connecting said chambers and having a check valve 91 retained by a cage 92 carried by the piston 87. The port 89 corresponds to the port 70, the port 90 corresponds to the port 71 and the check valve 91 corresponds to the check valve 72. A connecting rod 93 has one end pivotally connected to the valve 85 and its opposite end pivotally connected to the piston 87. The piston 37, including the parts 89 and 90 thereof and the parts 91 and 92 carried thereby, combines with the cylinder 81 to form a dashpot structure.

Operation of the delay opening valve 75 substantially corresponds to the operation of the valve 63. When operation of the pump commences a partial vacuum or suction is created in the conduit 58' and chamber 82 tending to swing the valve 85 upwardly to an open position. However, upward displacement of the piston 87 is resisted by the liquid in the chamber 88 which has to be exhausted slowly through the restricted port 89 to delay opening of the valve 85 for a sufficient time interval to allow the vacuum operated air volume control unit of the system to function, if necessary, to replenish the air in the upper part of the tank of the system. When operation of the pump ceases, the flow of water back into the chamber 82 refills the chamber 88 rapidly since the valve 91 is unseated to allow a more rapid flow of liquid through the port 90. Thus, the valve 85 is quickly returned to its closed position.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an automatic water supply system including a water source, a motor-driven pump, a pressure storage tank, a conduit leading from the water source to the tank in which conduit the pump is interposed, a pressure switch connected to the pump motor and to said conduit between the pump and tank, a branch conduit connected to the upper part of said tank and to said conduit between the water source and pump, and an air volume control unit interposed in said branch conduit and actuated by a vacuum therein for automatically replenishing air in the storage tank; a delay opening valve interposed in said conduit between the water source and said branch conduit including a valve body forming a part of said conduit and a valve element movably mounted in said valve body and disposed in a closed position when said pump is not in operation, said valve element being disposed to be urged toward an open position by the vacuum created in the conduit between said valve body and the pump when the pump is activated, and means contained in said valve body momentarily resisting movement of the valve to an open position to cause a predetermined vacuum to be built up in said branch conduit sufiicient to effect operation of said air volume control unit.

2. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said means including a chamber of the valve body containing a quantity of water disposed above and acting against said valve element for momentarily resisting movemtnt of the valve element to an open position.

3. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said valve body including a cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof, said valve element having; a close fitting sliding engagement in said cylinder and engaging the valve seat in the closed position of the valve, said valve body having a bypass in communication with the pump when the valve element is in a closed position through which water is drawn from the cylinder when operation of the pump is commenced for creating a suction in said cylinder for drawing the valve element toward an open position, said cylinder and passage constituting parts of said means momentarily resisting movement of the valve element to an open position.

4. In a combination as defined by claim 3, said valve body having a second passage connecting the cylinder to the pump around said valve element to provide a quantity flow of water to the cylinder when operation of the pump ceases to effect a quick closing of the valve, and a check valve in said last mentioned passage to prevent flow of the water therethrough toward the pump;

5. In a combination as defined by claim 4, said valve element being cup shaped and being open at the end thereof remote from said valve seat to receive a part of the water contained in the cylinder.

6. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said means including a diaphragm mounted in a part of said valve body and dividing a part of the valve body into chambers including a first chamber communicating with the pump and a second chamber, a small port formed in said diaphragm connecting said chambers, a rigid connecting element extending between and connected to said valve element and diaphragm, said valve element being movable toward the diaphragm toward an open position for distending the diaphragm into said second chamber, and leakage through said restricted port from the second chamber to the first chamber resisting and delaying movement of the valve element to an open position.

7. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said valve body having a part forming a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and dividing a part of the valve body into a first chamber communicating with the pump and a second chamber, said piston having a small port connecting the first and second chambers, said second chamber being closed except for its connection with the first chamber, said valve moving toward the piston in its movement toward an open position, and a rigid element connecting the valve element and piston whereby movement of the piston inwardly of said second chamber is resisted by dissipation of the contents of the second chamber through said restricted port.

8. In a combination as defined by claim 7, said piston having a second larger port connecting said chambers, and a check valve controlling said second port and arranged to open in response to pressure in the first chamber to permit a rapid return fiow to said second chamber to allow a rapid return movement of the valve to a closed position.

9. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said means comprising a dashpot structure contained in the valve body and connected to the valve element.

No references cited. 

